Umbrella of manually collapsible construction

ABSTRACT

The umbrella is constructed to be opened and closed manually and to collapse into a compact condition. Tapes are used to form both the shaft of the umbrella and the ribs for spreading out the cover. In the collapsed condition, the tapes are coiled up in the handle.

United-States Patent [19] Cohen [451 July 23, 1974 UMBRELLA OF MANUALLY COLLAPSIBLE CONSTRUCTION [76] Inventor: Paul J. Cohen, 1655 Flatbush, Apt.

B908, Brooklyn, NY. 11201 22 Filed: Aug. 14,1972

21 Appl. N0.: 280,150

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 132,784, April 9,

1972, Pat. N0. 3,683,948.

[52] US. Cl. .Q 135/20 R, 135/25 R, 135/26 [51] Int. Cl. A45b 19/00, A45b 25/02 [58] Field of Search 135/20, 25, 26

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,492,376 12/1949 Brillas 135/20 R X 3,683,948 8/1972 Cohen 135/20 R Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carn & Chapin [5 7] ABSTRACT The umbrella is constructed to be opened and closed manually and to collapse into a compact condition.

Tapes are used to form both the shaft of the umbrella and the ribs for spreading out the cover. In the collapsed condition, the tapes are coiled up in the handle.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEB JUL 2 31974 SHEET 3 BF 3 UMBRELLA OF MANUALLY COLLAPSIBLE CONSTRUCTION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 132,784 filed Apr. 9, 1972 now US. Pat.

This invention relates to an umbrella and more particularly to a collapsible umbrella.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a compact umbrella construction which can be carried within ,a pocket or purse.

It is another object of this invention to provide an umbrella of collapsible construction which can be opened and closed in a simple manual manner.

Briefly, the invention provides an umbrella similar to that described in application Ser. No. 132,784 which is constructed of a frame having a base which defines a handle, a crown which mates within the base in the collapsed condition of the umbrella and a plurality of tape members which are' fixed at one end within the base and which extend through the crown to move outwardly of the crown when the frame is opened from a collapsed condition. The frame also includes suitable releasable locking means which selectively secure the tape members relative to the base and to the crown in the respective open and closed positions.

In one embodiment, one releaseable locking means includes a rotatable collar about the handle and a plurality of locking pins which project into the respective tapes and are actuated by the collar to be pulled from the tapes. The pins are also spring biased to snap back into suitable holes or notches in the tapes in order to lock the tapes relative to the base.

In another embodiment, the releasable locking means uses a slidable collar instead of a rotatable collar.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become'more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates, an umbrella of the invention in closed condition;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view taken on line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 illustratesa cross-sectional view of the, umbrella in a partially opened position;

FIG. 4 illustrates a fragmentary view of the umbrella in a further partially opened position;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentary view of the umbrella in opened condition;

FIG. 6 illustrates a view of an opened umbrella;

FIG. 7 illustrates a view taken on line 7-7 of FIG.

FIG. 8 illustrates a view of a collar of a releaseable locking means according to theinvention',

FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmentary view of a tape member according to the invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a view of a modified collar of a releaseable locking means according to the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the umbrella 10 is constructed with a frame 11 and a cover 12. The frame 11 is constituted by a base 13 which defines a handle for gripping of the umbrella during use, a crown 14 and a plurality of tape members 15, for example, four which extend from the base 13 through the crown 14 to the peripheral edge of the cover 12. Alternatively, any suitable number of tape members 15 can be used, for example from three to eight or more. Any suitable fastening means such as a cap 16 press fitted over the end of a tape member 15 and a piece of the cover is used to secure the cover 12 to a tape member 15.

Referring to FIG. 2, the base 13 is of substantially cylindrical contour and contains a central socket 17 for receiving a mating stem 18 on the crown 14 as well as an interior chamber 19 (cf. FIG. 6) in which a plurality of spools 20 are rotatably mounted in a suitable manner. Each spool 20 has an end of a tape member 15 wound thereon and is biased to move the tape member either inwardly or outwardly. As shown, thc spools 20 are in equally spaced arrangement within the base 13 and each of the tape members 15 is of an essentially strip construction. The base 13 is provided with a number of guideways 21 corresponding to the number of tape members in order to guide the tape members 15 out of the base 13.

Alternatively, the spools 20 can be mounted in a tandem arrangement within the base 13. Also, each spool 20 can be provided with two woundtape members 15 with each tape member being guided out of the base 13 in diametrically opposed relation. Further, each tape member 15 can be of curvilinear cross-section about a center disposed centrally of the base 13. That is, the tape members can be curved so as to form a substantially tubular shaft between the base 13 and crown 14 when the umbrella is opened while also forming a rigid rib for the cover 12 with the curve in the same direction, i.e., with the center of curvature located toward the cover 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, the crown 14 is also provided with a plurality of guideways 22 which extend through the stem 18 in substantially parallel fashion and which curve outwardly at the ends to extend to the outer circumferential periphery of the crown 14. Each of these guideways 22 slidably receives a tape member 15 therein and guides the tape member 15 into a flared out shape outside the crown 14 so as to form a spoked frame for receiving the cover 12 thereon.

The guideways 21, 22 in the base 13 and crown 14 are each of a cross-section, such as an arcuate shape, semicircular shape, U-shape (FIG. 6) or flat section so as to best permit the passage of or support of the tape member 15. In addition, the guideways 21, 22 are oriented in a slight angular relationship either inwardly or outwardly to the central vertical axis of the umbrella 10 such that the tape members 15 form a tapered staff when the umbrella is opened so as to add to the rigidity of the umbrella 10. The guideways 22 are also shaped to accommodate a transition of the tape member 15 from the inwardly curved shape in the staff through a flattened shape in the crown 14 and to the curved shape in the ribs.

In order to limit themovement of the tape members 15 out of the crown 14, each tape member 15 is provided at an intermediate point with a stop, e.g., asdescribed in said patent application and the guideways 22 are each provided with a cooperating slot.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, in order to maintain the tape members-15 within the base 13, a releaseable locking means 25 is provided. This locking means 25 includes a plurality of locking pins 26 which are radially mounted within the base 13. Each locking pin 26 is mounted so as to slide within the base 13 under the action of a collar 27 mounted about the base 13. To this end, each locking pin 26 has a head 28 located within a recess 29 of the collar 27tEach head 28 is pro- Ividedwith a tapered surface 30 which is disposed opposite a tapered cam surface 31 f the collar27; In addition, each locking pin 26 has an intermediate collar 32 secured thereon-within a recess'33 the base 13 to limit inward motion of the locking'pin 26. A compression spring 34 is also mounted within each recess 33 of the base 13 to abut against the intermediate collar'32 and against aside wall of the recess 33 so as to bias the locking pin 26 inwardly.

' As shown in FIG. 7,the collar 27 is rotatable about the base 13 for a limited angular movement. To this end, the collar 27 is provided with a recess 35 into which a shoulder 36 onthe base 13 projects to limit movement of the'collar 27. In addition, a compression spring 37"is located between the collar 27 and the shoulder 36 to bias the collar 27in 'a counterclockwise directionasviewed. The collar- 27 also carries atab 38 which provides a surface by which'the-collar can be r'otated'against the force of the spring 37 ina clockwise,

' in the above said patent application can be used. Such a-locking' means includes a ring 40 which encircles the tape members, a double cam lever 41 pivotally mounted in thestem 18 on a shaft 42, a pin 43 mounted a't'the lower end of the lever 41, a link 44 pivotally connected on the ring 40 and the upper end of the lever 41 by pivots and a spring 45 which biases the lever 41 counter-clockwise as shown. The ring carries a plurality of cams (not shown) which are sized to fit into mating recesses or notches 46 in the tape members so as to lock the tape members 15 in place relative to the crown 14. The lower pin 43 is sized to project out of the stem 18 into a recess 47 formed inthebase 13 when the crown 14 is disposed within the base; 13. i

As shown in FIG. 8, the locking collar 27 has an L- shapeslot 47 communicating with each recess 29 to provide for passage over-each locking pin 26.

ther notches or, recesses 51 (FIG. 9) in the edges of the" tape members 15. In this position, the tape members 15 are again locked with respect to the crown 14l(FlG. 6).

In orderto close theumbrella, the releaseable lock ing means 39 in the crown 14 is actuated and thecrown 14 is moved away from the base 13. This serves to pull the tape members 15 back through the crown 14 until the lockingmeans39-re-engages the notches or recesses 46 near the terminal endof the tape members 15. Thetape members 15 are again locked with respect to the crown 14. Next, the releaseable locking means 25 on the base 13 is actuated and the base 13 and crown 14 are pushed together so as to move the tape members 15 into the base 13 until the locking pins 26 re-eng'age into the tape-members 15, At this time, the tape mem- In operation, inorder to open the umbrella,a strap 49 surrounding the cover 12 is first released in the usual fashion. Thereafter, the locking collar 27about the base 13 is, rotated so as to pull the locking pins 26 out of the tape'members 15. Next, the crown 14 and base 13 are pulled apart (FIG. 3). During this time, the tape members 15 are uncoiled out of the base13 while the locking pins 26 slide along the surfaces of the tape members 15. This continues until the locking pins 26 snap intorespective holes 50 (FIG. 9) in each of the tape members 15 which are located at predetermined points of the tape members so as to fix the tape members 15 relative to the base 13 once more (FIG. 4). Next, the releaseable locking means 39 about the .crown 14 is activated by pressing in the pin 43. This rebers 15 are again locked with respect to the 'base 13. Also, the base 13 and crown 14'arelocked with respect to each other. i i

Alternatively, where the releaseable locking 'means are of the same construction as described with respect to FIG. 7,'each tape member would be provided with four holes with each pair of holes which cooperate with arespective locking means 25, 39 being offset with respect to the other pair so as to avoid interference. As a further alternative, the base and crown can be provided with a locking means bywhich the base and crown snap together in a locking fit relationship such thatth'e holes required tof x the tape members within the base can beomitted. I I

Referring to FIG. 10,'the releaseable locking means 25' as described in FIG. 7 can be modified so as to have a collar 52 which is slidably mounted axially of the base 13. In this case, the collar 52 is biased by a spring 53 in a direction downwardly as shown. The base 13 includes a shoulder 54 as above against which the 'comfixed at one end in the base with the'opposite ends free to'sliderelative-to the crown. In this case, in the collapsed condition, the crown is spaced from the base. In a condition of use, the crownis pushed towards the base so as "to cause the tape members to splay outwardly. This embodiment provides a relatively short shaft when the umbrella is in use I The spools on which the tape members are mounted can be assembled as a unit in the handle in any suitable fashion. The ends of the tape members canthereafter be passed through the base and crown for assembly purposes.

What is claimed is:.

1. An umbrella comprising a base defining a handle;

a crown; j I

a plurality of resilient tape members connecting said crown to said base between a closed position and an open position, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base in said closed position and an opposite end passing through said crown;

a first releaseable locking means for selectively securing saidt'ape members in said base;and

asecond releaseable locking means for selectively securing said tape members in said crown.

2. An umbrella as set forth in claim I wherein said tape members are each of curvilinear cross-section.

3. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first releaseable locking means includes a'plurality of locking pins, each said pin being slidably mounted in said base for selectively engaging a respective one of said tape members, and means for moving said pins relative to said tape members.

4. An umbrella as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for moving said pins includes a collar disposed about said base, said collar having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon for respectively engaging a head on each respective locking pin.

5. An umbrella as set forth in claim 4 wherein said collar is rotatable on said base.

6. An umbrella as set forth in claim 4 wherein said collar is axially slidable on said base.

7. An umbrella as set forth in claim 3 wherein sai first locking means includes a plurality of springs in said base, each said spring biasing a respective locking pin outwardly of said base.

8. An umbrella frame comprising a base defining a handle;

a crown;

a plurality of tape members connecting said crown to said base between a closed position and an open position, each said tape member having an end section disposed in said base and an opposite end passing through said crown; and

a releaseablelocking means for selectively securing said tape members in said crown in said closed position and said open position.

9. An umbrella comprising a base;

a crown;

a plurality of resilient tape members, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base and an opposite end passing through and slidably received within said crown, each said tape member being of curvilinear cross-section; and

releaseable locking means securing said coiled end sections of said tape members in said base in said closed position.

10. An umbrella as set forth in claim 9 wherein said locking means includes a plurality of locking pins, each said pin being slidably mounted in said base for selectively engaging a respective one'of said tape members, and means for moving said pins relative to said tape members.

11. An umbrella as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for moving said pins includes a collar disposed about said base, said collar having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon for respectively'engaging a head on each respective locking pin.

12. An umbrella as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises at least one spool in said base, said spool having a pair of tape members coiled thereon. 

1. An umbrella comprising a base defining a handle; a crown; a plurality of resilient tape members connecting said crown to said base between a closed position and an open position, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base in said closed position and an opposite end passing through said crown; a first releaseable locking means for selectively securing said tape members in said base; and a second releaseable locking means for selectively securing said tape members in said crown.
 2. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tape members are each of curvilinear cross-section.
 3. An umbrella as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first releaseable locking means includes a plurality of locking pins, each said pin being slidably mounted in said base for selectively engaging a respective one of said tape members, and means for moving said pins relative to said tape members.
 4. An umbrella as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for moving said pins includes a collar disposed about said base, said collar having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon for respectively engaging a head on each respective locking pin.
 5. An umbrella as set forth in claim 4 wherein said collar is rotatable on said base.
 6. An umbrella as set forth in claim 4 wherein said collar is axially slidable on said base.
 7. An umbrella as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first locking means includes a plurality of springs in said base, each said spring biasing a respective locking pin outwardly of said base.
 8. An umbrella frame comprising a base defining a handle; a crown; a plurality of tape members connecting said crown to said base between a closed position and an open position, each said tape member having an end section disposed in said base and an opposite end passing through said crown; and a releaseable locking means for selectively securing said tape members in said crown in said closed position and said open position.
 9. An umbrella comprising a base; a crown; a plurality of resilient tape members, each said tape member having a coiled end section disposed in said base and an opposite end passing through and slidably received within said crown, each said tape member being of curvilinear cross-section; and releaseable locking means securing said coiled end sections of said tape members in said base in said closed position.
 10. An umbrella as set forth in claim 9 wherein said lockiNg means includes a plurality of locking pins, each said pin being slidably mounted in said base for selectively engaging a respective one of said tape members, and means for moving said pins relative to said tape members.
 11. An umbrella as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for moving said pins includes a collar disposed about said base, said collar having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon for respectively engaging a head on each respective locking pin.
 12. An umbrella as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises at least one spool in said base, said spool having a pair of tape members coiled thereon. 